Featherstone Purston St Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Pontefract, WF7 5BG · Wakefield · primary school
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93rd of 98 primary schools in Wakefield we can score, 113 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.8/10 against 1,361 of them, against 1.7/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 46.0 · 14 | 40% | 0.55 |
| Ofsted | 3 | 35% | 0.10 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 1.0 · 21 | 25% | 0.53 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Featherstone Purston St Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 46.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 1.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in April 2024. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 314 pupils against a stated capacity of 410. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific actions are being taken to address the "Requires improvement" rating from the 2024 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Featherstone Purston St Thomas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
Overview
The inspection judged the school’s overall effectiveness as ‘Requires improvement’, noting that while values of ‘hope, love, respect and kindness’ are central to school life, the ambition for every pupil to do well is not realised. Pupils achieve ‘poor outcomes’ at the end of key stage 2, with inconsistent curriculum delivery and behaviour issues, particularly during unstructured times.
Strengths
- Relationships between staff and pupils are positive, with a ‘strong commitment to supporting pupils’ emotional needs’.
- The phonics programme is ‘taught consistently and effectively’, with well-trained staff providing daily support for those needing help.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive effective support and access the full curriculum.
- Staff feel ‘valued and part of a supportive team’, with leaders genuinely caring about their well-being and workload.
- Pupils benefit from extra-curricular clubs and take on leadership roles such as school councillors.
Areas to improve
- Ensure teaching resources and activities are consistently matched to the knowledge pupils need to learn in all subjects.
- Embed effective systems to check what pupils know and remember in wider-curriculum subjects.
- Develop a clearly sequenced approach to teaching reading beyond phonics to ensure fluency and accuracy.
- Improve behaviour during playtimes and lunchtimes so all pupils feel safe.
- Strengthen systems for monitoring attendance and resolving persistent absence.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 35% |
| 2023/24 | 49% |
| 2024/25 | 46% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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